Tobacco humidifier element



April 22, 1941. H. SEKI 2,239,628

TOBACCO HUMIDIFIER ELEMENT Filed April 12, 1940 SLR/k4 lNV NTOR ATTORNEYPatented Apr. 22, 1941 UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE TOBACCO HUMIDIFIERELEMENT Henry Seki, New York, N. Y.

Application April 12, 1940, Serial No. 329,221

4 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, compact,inexpensive and practical humidifier unit adapted for use in cigaretteand cigar cases and containers, tobacco pouches, and the like.

The device comprises a receptacle to hold water and a closure for thereceptacle that permits evaporation but prevents leaking or spilling inany position of the unit.

The preferred embodiment of the humidifier unit contemplated herein willbe described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the tobacco humidifier unit;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of two elements of the preferred form ofclosure.

A short tube 2, similar to a test tube,is utilized as a water receptacleor chamber. This element may be of glass, either ordinary orunbreakable, Celluloid, plastic, or any suitable non-rusting andnon-corroding material. A transparent or translucent material that willshow whether there is water in the receptacle is to be desired.

The closure illustrated in the drawing comprises a porous evaporationmembrane 3, of fine cloth such as silk, and two interfitting elements 4and 5. The element 4 is a sleeve that slips tightly over the mouth endof the tube 2. The element 5 is a shorter sleeve, ferrule or ring thatfits frictionally into the sleeve 4. Between these elements the marginof the evaporation membrane is clasped. In the assembling of thisclosure, the piece of silk is placed over one end of the ring 5, thenthe sleeve 4 is fitted over the ring 5 and the margin or edges of themembrane 3. In use, these elements constitute one part, which-isremovable from the water receptacle when the latter needs re-filling.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the elements 4, 5 of the closure, whenapplied to the tube, extend beyond the membrane 3, which lies across themouth of the tube, and provide a rim to guard the membrane and to keepit from direct contact with the inside of a cigarette, cigar or tobaccocontainer or the contents thereof. If the. humidifier element is put ina tobacco pouch, loose tobacco will come in contact with the porousmembrane, causing the water in the tube to become stained, but therewill be no undesirable eflect.

The sizefof the pores of the closure is such that there is efijectiveevaporation through the closure, but the water can not leak, drip orspill through the pores in whatever position the humidifier unit findsitself, or even if the unit is vigorously shaken.

The elements 4, 5 may be of any non-rusting, non-corroding material,metallic or non-metallic.

The unit may bemade in different sizes, a small size being suitable forcigarette cases, and a larger size being appropriate for a cigar chest,for example. The purpose of the invention is to provide an improvedmeans for keeping tobacco in various forms fresh and satisfactory to thesmoker.

I claim:

1. A tobacco humidifier unit, including a water receptacle, and aclosure comprising a unitary assemblage removably fitted to the mouth ofsaid receptacle, said unitary assemblage including two interfittingelements, one of which fits over the mouth of the receptacle, and aporous membrane, the margin of which is caught between the interfittingportions of said elements.

2. A tobacco humidifier unit, comprising a tube to hold water, and anevaporation closure comprising a sleeve closely fitting the outside'ofthe tube, a ring inside said sleeve, and a porous membrane clasped atthe margin between said sleeve and ring, which project beyond themembrane to form a guard rim.

3. A tobacco humidifier unit, comprising a water receptacle, a membraneof fine cloth across the mouth of said receptacle, and two interfittingelements one of which rigidly holds the other with the margin of saidmembrane clamped between them, and one of which fits over the mouth ofsaid receptacle.

4. A tobacco humidifier unit consisting of a water receptacle, and aunitary closure assemblage, said closure assemblage consisting of aporous evaporation membrane, the pores of which are of such fineness asto prevent leaking in any position of the unit, and two interfittingelements at least one of which fits the mouth of the water receptacle,the margin of said membrane being caught between the interfittingportions of said elements.

HENRY SEKI.

